No Successful NFL Team Drafts Best Player Available

fivetwos

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I'm not sure how anyone cites an example of either without access to the draft board of that team.

We can guess all we like about which way something went but it cant be proven.

As far as the 2005 Cowboys, there were so many holes on it before that draft you could have taken anyone and made the case that it was a position of need.
 

Rogerthat12

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The Taco pick was not BAPON or you would have selected Wyatt. It was what the coaches said the need as Taco was much bigger than Wyatt. But it was obvious the Cowboys had not moved on for unreliable players like Gregory (always suspended) and Lawrence (who had been suspended) as priority was to get unreliable coaching favorites to play versus Taco.

However I am not getting into a Taco arguement because cutting him broke the 3 year rule, the BAPON rule, and the Cowboys are still trying to count on unreliable players like Gregory and Aldon Smith.

Wyatt?
giphy.gif
 

fivetwos

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Furthermore, pure BPA does have a certain amount of reason to it.

For example, if today Dallas deals down to say 22. Swift may be the highest graded player left on the board, but you cant take him there.

The idea is more about not to leave a much higher graded player on the board at a position you may sort of need for a player at a spot of serious weakness.

"Needs" change year to year, and you never have any idea what's going to happen as far as player availability and health.
 

Chuck 54

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If you have a bad team, you move around in the draft to get the players at positions you need without wasting the value. If you have a really good roster that is in the playoff hunt regularly, BPA makes you stronger.
 

Tussinman

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Everyone is technically right.

Usually in earlier rounds the talent gap isn't as rapid per pick so you might as well draft someone who can start and help now so long as the value drop isn't signficant

But at the same time with injuries, trades, and free agency/holdouts you never really know what position your going to need the following season so do you draft a player you don't need now but with slightly higher upside ?
 

Williamsboys

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The stategy should be called Best player available If he fits our need. Sometimes you simply have to use common sense.I.E
Dallas doesnt select a cornerback at #17 because the few they have on their board early are already taken, but there's a good defensive end at #17 and they like him and he fits a need..Take him then get your corner in the next round.
It also makes sense to wait a round for a corner or wide receiver if you know this draft has also of depth in those positions, which it does.
 

eromeopolk

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it is BPA but for your NEED its the same thing they have 3-4 players at each pick and they take the best of those 4 that is BPA..you are making this complicated with a long winded post..I guarantee you if the top 3 they have at 17 are gone and somehow a Herbert or Tua dropped there we are taking them over a need position..you dont pass up on talent like that goes for the top WR even though a high draft pick not needed they would take one.. no team is 100% set at every position so you could take BPA and still be good..

trade them in few years or trade the player they will replace because they will be cheaper IE of TUA or Herbert there , it opens up trading Dak in 2021 or even before the trade deadline if somehow they looked ready by then and we somehow out of the playoff race..want and example MM drafted Rogers in the 20s even though Farve played 3-4 more years and it set the franchise up at qb for the next 10 years..i agree most boards have top postion of need and look there first but a generational talent falls to you that you dont need, YOU TAKE THEM AND YES SUCCESSFUL TEAMS DO THSI, HOW IS IT THAT NE DRAFTED JG AND JB EVEN THOUGH TB WAS SET FOR WHILE .. they got high draft picks for them and now have Stidenm and most likely goes after another in the first..NE wasn't a successful team? they picked BPA nearly all the time.. they dumped the higher contract player and went young..
Tom Brady was 100 years now going on 200 years old in football years so QB was a prioritized need.

Who was in the Super Bowl last year and who was at home?
 

DandyDon52

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I think you would use some common sense , and switch when needed, both can work for you.
 

foofighters

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I hear Cowboys fans talk a lot about drafting the best player available. No team is successful drafting the best player available (BPA). Ask the Detroit Lions who drafted Charles Rodgers, Roy Williams, Mike Williams, and Calvin Johnson in almost consecutive drafts.

You draft the best available player of need (BAPON), ranking the players by grade, then by positions, ranking your needs in priority (prioritized needs), and then you make your BAPON draft board. You can trade up or down using BAPON but you better stick with the board. The 2005 draft that is on ESPN2 today shows how it worked correctly. Parcells wanted to change to a 3-4 Defense and need players. To go to a 3-4 D you better have and outstanding pass rusher at OLB that can also drop in coverage when needed. You also need a DL that can hold up at the line of scrimage and then be able to rush the passer (275 to +300 pound DL).

The Cowboys had DL as there no.1 priority position of need in 2005, and no. 2 was OLB. When the Cowboys came to pick in the 1st round of the 2005 draft, they had a dilemma. Demarcus Ware was the BAPON on the draft board, but the no.1 priority position of need fit was Marcus Spears, DL, LSU from Southern Lab High in Baton Rouge, and Nick Saban Coached. Parcell's loved Ware saying he reminded him of a retired LB in FL (LT), however his no. 1 priority need was not the no.1 player on the draft board. So the Cowboys personnel department (Jeff Ireland, others) had to conveince him to stick to the board and draft Ware then hope that Spears fell to their 20 pick in the 1st round or they could trade up to snatch him. Parcells did not want to take the risk but he also knew about the Cowboys not sticking with the BAPON draft board leading the all the sorry Larry Lacewell drafts that he required Jerry Jones to fire for Parcells to Coach the Cowboys. So, the Cowboys stuck with the BAPON and drafted future Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor OLB Demarucs Ware. The remainder of the draft BAPON was used and the Cowboys went for 4-3 to 3-4 in one draft, creating a playoff/super bowl caliber defense that continued through the lousy coaching and coaching carousel of Son of Bum, and that Red Head clapping idiot who finally wasted what was drafted in 2005.

BAPON was the method used by Gil Brandt/Wooten during the Landry years (20 consecutive winning seasons) before Landry got more involved in personnel decisions in the mid/late 80's. BAPON was used masterfully by Jimmy Johnson/Ackles/Wooten to build the Cowboys Dynasty of the 90's. BAPON was totally neglected during the Jerry Jones/Lacewell years. BAPON was brought back during the Parcells years (see the trade down in 2004 that lead to the 2 1st round picks in 2005). Neglected again during the Jerry Jones/Tom Ciskowski years. After the 2013 fiasco (trade down not using BAPON) BAPON was brought back by Will McClay. However Jerry still can mess it up when he listens to coaches vs. scouts see the Hill DT pick, and the waste of former 1st round pick Taco Charlton, who had as many sacks as Demarcus Lawrence in less games last year for the Dolphins as Lawrence cost per sack total was $4M less than Taco.

When you draft the Best Available Player of Need according to your draft board, you will pass on Johnny Football, and draft a OG from Notre Dame named Zach Martin. Keep yourself and your coaches out of the selection process, and never draft the best available player without looking at prioritized needs or you will end up with 4 WR as your number one pick 4 out of 5 years.
Wait, the Cowboys had a Super Bowl caliber defense? ...wat?
 

eromeopolk

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Wait, the Cowboys had a Super Bowl caliber defense? ...wat?
2 things I know in my heart for certain. 1. If Romo does not fumble the snap, that team was going to be in the Super Bowl because the Rex Grossman led Bears offense was not going to hold up to the 2006 defense (they would not have won the Super Bowl vs. Manning Colts). 2. If Jerry would not have driven Parcells out with the TO mess and breaking out the anointing oil on Romo, Parcells would have taken the Cowboys with the defense he built and was building from 2003-2006 to the Super Bowl. After the 2007 Season the Cowboys had an NFL record 13 Pro Bowl Players and 5 were on defense (pass rush and secondary).
 

aikemirv

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I think we did a good job in FA so that we don't have to draft for need. I think that is what you should always do to some degree. We may be weak at CB and I would say that MAY be the greatest need position
 

heir

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It really comes down to a mixture of both. There are times when the BPA is the best options and others where you have to factor in the team needs. If it is close that's where the decisions come in. Many teams have been successful doing it both ways.
 

eromeopolk

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This is why in 1977 the Cowboys traded up for Tony Dorsett who was BAPON...
You draft the best available player of need (BAPON), ranking the players by grade, then by positions, ranking your needs in priority (prioritized needs), and then you make your BAPON draft board.
Grade, Rank, Prioritize, Draft...Repeat.

You can stay put (Aikman 1989, Too Tall Jones 1974), trade up (Dorsett 1977, Smith 1990), or trade down (Kevin Smith and Darren Woodson 1992, Kevin Williams and Darrin Smith 1993) using BAPON.
 

CowboyRoy

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I hear Cowboys fans talk a lot about drafting the best player available. No team is successful drafting the best player available (BPA). Ask the Detroit Lions who drafted Charles Rodgers, Roy Williams, Mike Williams, and Calvin Johnson in almost consecutive drafts.

You draft the best available player of need (BAPON), ranking the players by grade, then by positions, ranking your needs in priority (prioritized needs), and then you make your BAPON draft board. You can trade up or down using BAPON but you better stick with the board. The 2005 draft that is on ESPN2 today shows how it worked correctly. Parcells wanted to change to a 3-4 Defense and need players. To go to a 3-4 D you better have and outstanding pass rusher at OLB that can also drop in coverage when needed. You also need a DL that can hold up at the line of scrimage and then be able to rush the passer (275 to +300 pound DL).

The Cowboys had DL as there no.1 priority position of need in 2005, and no. 2 was OLB. When the Cowboys came to pick in the 1st round of the 2005 draft, they had a dilemma. Demarcus Ware was the BAPON on the draft board, but the no.1 priority position of need fit was Marcus Spears, DL, LSU from Southern Lab High in Baton Rouge, and Nick Saban Coached. Parcell's loved Ware saying he reminded him of a retired LB in FL (LT), however his no. 1 priority need was not the no.1 player on the draft board. So the Cowboys personnel department (Jeff Ireland, others) had to conveince him to stick to the board and draft Ware then hope that Spears fell to their 20 pick in the 1st round or they could trade up to snatch him. Parcells did not want to take the risk but he also knew about the Cowboys not sticking with the BAPON draft board leading the all the sorry Larry Lacewell drafts that he required Jerry Jones to fire for Parcells to Coach the Cowboys. So, the Cowboys stuck with the BAPON and drafted future Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor OLB Demarucs Ware. The remainder of the draft BAPON was used and the Cowboys went for 4-3 to 3-4 in one draft, creating a playoff/super bowl caliber defense that continued through the lousy coaching and coaching carousel of Son of Bum, and that Red Head clapping idiot who finally wasted what was drafted in 2005.

BAPON was the method used by Gil Brandt/Wooten during the Landry years (20 consecutive winning seasons) before Landry got more involved in personnel decisions in the mid/late 80's. BAPON was used masterfully by Jimmy Johnson/Ackles/Wooten to build the Cowboys Dynasty of the 90's. BAPON was totally neglected during the Jerry Jones/Lacewell years. BAPON was brought back during the Parcells years (see the trade down in 2004 that lead to the 2 1st round picks in 2005). Neglected again during the Jerry Jones/Tom Ciskowski years. After the 2013 fiasco (trade down not using BAPON) BAPON was brought back by Will McClay. However Jerry still can mess it up when he listens to coaches vs. scouts see the Hill DT pick, and the waste of former 1st round pick Taco Charlton, who had as many sacks as Demarcus Lawrence in less games last year for the Dolphins as Lawrence cost per sack total was $4M less than Taco.

When you draft the Best Available Player of Need according to your draft board, you will pass on Johnny Football, and draft a OG from Notre Dame named Zach Martin. Keep yourself and your coaches out of the selection process, and never draft the best available player without looking at prioritized needs or you will end up with 4 WR as your number one pick 4 out of 5 years.

Not rocket science. Its a combination of both that the good teams use. Later in the draft I think you use more of the BPA then in the first two rounds.
 

robertfchew

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Disagree... when Aaron Rodgers was drafted, he was the BPA. They've been pretty successful for a while, and he has a SB win.

I dont know how he is ranked so high, he's gotten lucky a few times, fakes injuries every year, look at how he melted down in the playoffs last season, some people rank him as one of the top qb's ever who won one fluke sb. If we has anywhere near as good as people thought he woulda carry teams esp in that poo poo division
 
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